Two candidates banned from elections over violations

AMMAN — The Amman Court of Appeal on Monday approved two objections against election candidates and rejected three, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

The court accepted the objection submitted by voter Abdullah Hussein Jalal to contest the candidacy of Hussam Masheh, former president of the Jordan Teachers Association, in Amman’s 1st District, the president of the court, Judge Qasem Momani, told Petra. 

Momani said the court ruled that Masheh could not stand for election because he retired from his post as a public school teacher on August 24, while the Independent Election Commission regulations state that candidates should have resigned from public office by July 20. 

In the same electoral district, Jalal also contested the candidacy of Ali Abul Sukkar, a member of the Islamic Action Front, on the grounds that Abul Sukkar had been previously convicted by the State Security Court (SSC). 

The court accepted that Abul Sukkar could not stand for election, Momani said, adding that a general pardon law did not apply to SSC rulings. 

Some nine contestations have been lodged against electoral candidates at the Amman Court of Appeal, the judge said, of which five were heard on Monday.